Friday, December 31, 2010

We are celebrating at home this year as we normally do. Stuffed mushrooms, cheese sticks, pizza, little smokies, jalapeno peppers, several chips and dips and more. We have the Wii set up and movies to watch.

I asked the girls if they were making any New Years Resolutions, and they all said no. I have heard several people say they aren't as it is too hard. Maybe that means they are setting their goals to high. Instead of vowing to loose 50 pounds next year, make your goal to loose 20 or 25, or to simply walk for 30 minutes a day, instead of vowing to keep a spotless house, make it your goal to deep clean one room of your home every week or two weeks. Then, reward yourself when you do well.

The new year brings all sorts of hopes and new opportunities. But remember, you don't have to wait for a New Year for a new beginning. Every day brings a new beginning, as the old saying goes "today is the first day of the rest of your life".

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Right now it is 62 degrees here on the farm and windy. Very very windy. I have been watching my ducks and chickens, and one of my ducks just flew into the side of the house, thanks to a gust of wind.

The wind and warm weather is nice though, we turned the heat way down and have opened windows for some fresh air.

Today I plan on starting to take down the Christmas decorations, although we usually wait until Jan 1. I am really wanting them down because I want my bedroom back. Since the tree is up in the living room, my bedroom is holding an extra rocking chair and toy box from the living room. The outside Christmas lights will have to wait, as it is too windy to get on a ladder.

Later today I plan on making next years supply of laundry soap. I always make a years worth at a time, but then I give part of it away, so it usually only will last around 6-9 months. For detailed instructions look here. Then, I also plan on going through the clothes the girls have outgrown, get them all mended and washed and ready to donate (that is another pile in a corner of my bedroom that will go away).

That should give me my room back. Did you notice that doing one chore (of cleaning my room), first requires me to do the other chores? (taking down the tree to make room for the chair, making more laundry soap so I can wash the clothes to donate...) No wonder moms don't get much done!!

Last night I made a list of 365 journal entries for next year. I'll post them under my homeschool happenings.

This is the time to save on buying wrapping paper for next year. Also, its a good time to buy marked down Christmas blankets or sheets that you can make cloth gift bags out of. You can make them like a cloth shopping bag, or like a pillowcase with a draw string top. Also, the sheet fabric is great for making next years Christmas PJ's out of for little ones. Much cheaper to do it this way than to buy the fabric.

Friday, December 24, 2010

On Thanksgiving, we were surprised with two new calves, which we named Turkey and Pumpkin. Turkey is all white, while Pumpkin is the color of...pumpkin of course! Turkey doesn't seem to know the meaning of a barbed wire fence, and we have found her all over the farm. She just kind of walks right through them. However, she has never left the farm and always comes back when her momma calls her. She is very curious. Pumpkin tends to stay right beside her momma. Once these calves are ready to travel, they, along with their mommas will be moving to Oklahoma.

Last week, on one of the coldest days, Hershey, an Angus, gave birth to twins, which the girls have named Tator and Tot. They will be staying here on the farm. Tator and Tot were born very tiny, much smaller than our black lab. However, they are very lively and eating well.

An interesting note about cows, they all help take turns watching each others babies. While the mommas eat or for a swim in the pond, they send their calves over to another momma to watch. The 'babysitter' cow will even feed them if need be. Sad that cows often take better care of their young than some people. We have also at times caught one of the horses watching the calves, while the mommas are all at the pond. It is rather fun to watch the interaction between the animals. In fact, when the dogs are in the pasture it even seems they can communicate with them also.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

So far, we have had 2 Christmas, and we still have about 3 more to go...

This morning, we had Christmas with all 5 girls. One of the older ones will be leaving in the morning to head back to her home, (and hopefully beat the snow and ice we are supposed to get), and the other one just got in last night, so today was the "overlap" to have a Christmas with all the girls home. We opened presents, then ate a German casserole my husband made. He loves German food, and just got a new cookbook that had some recipes in it he wanted to try, and this was one of them.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE all the gifts I have received, but wanted to share some unique ones the 3 younger girls and I received. They were made by a relative of my stepdaughters, who is an artist. One cool thing is she works with metal art, and her last name is Eisenhauer, which in German translates to "metal worker". Anyway, we received angels, made out of screen wire. She also makes wreaths, flowers and more. She works with other metals and paints also. Visit her online store, called Village Designs.

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About Me

I'm a mom, currently homeschooling 2 of our 3 daughters still living at home, & stepmom to 2 who have already left home. We also have 3 toddlers we watch part time. Our 5 girls include 2 sets of twins.
This is our 5th year of homeschooling. We farm- have cows, horses, ducks, pigs, chickens, rabbits, dogs,cats & fish. We plant a garden & can & freeze our food. We have 2 stocked ponds, an orchard, & vineyard. Each year we try to expand. Our goal to be more of a homesteading family than a farm family.
My husband works fulltime outside of the home, & is a fire fighter, both paid and volunteer; I work at home. In addition, I also subteach & teach once a week.
I write part time & and sell articles to both print & online publications. I also own a business that teaches CPR, First Aid, babysitting 101, & more. In order to continue to be a stay at home mom (for the most part) I am always researching new ways to be frugal. My hobbies include sewing, reading, baking, needle work, gardening, camping & genealogy, volunteer firefighting & EMT.

My family tree

Genealogy is one of my favorite hobbies. I can spend hours in the library, at cemeteries or on the computer researching and inputting information into my software “Family Tree Maker”. Names in my tree that I am researching include (but are not limited to and of course have various spellings): Espey, also spelled Aspey, Shinabarger, Gray, Hough, Haynes, Lay, Cox, Miller, Lynn, French, Neukommer, Williams, Edgerton, Moore, Baldwin, Hall, Yoder, Rothman, Chadwick, Richards, Brey, Updike, Pierson and more.

A cousin has traced the line back to Austria. I have worked on lines in MO, IN, OR and PA.

If someone needs a grave photo that is located near Clinton Co, Nodaway Co or Johnson Co in Missouri, I can take a digital photo and send it to you for a $20 fee (mainly for my gas). You will get faster response for Clinton Co as that is where I live.

Prayer requests

Our family, as we deal with the loss of Debbie from cancer.

those without jobs

Caleb W

IDES teams as they work in Joplin MO

Daryl Burchetts' family, Daryl passed away from cancer.

Kori-a 16 year old that has been fighting cancer off and on the last several years.

Monette A. (a local homeschooling Christian mom with cancer)

Bryn (recovering from a heart transplant)

Those in or with family in Japan. Japan has disappeared out of the news, but there are still many who are homeless.

Our president

our soldiers away from home and their families here at home

our economy

our youth--our future! May we train them and teach them the way they should be taught

Joplin MO. We have friends who live here. One (Doug) completely lost EVERYTHING. Another, Faith Dunn, lost her life. Our family along with area homeschoolers have volunteered in Joplin and are planning to return.

Soap & Misc recipes

Automatic Dishwasher Soap

Add equal parts of 20 Mule Team Borax and Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda!). Stir together until well mixed.
A normal dishwasher will use 2 tablespoons per load